The Best Bang for Your Buck — Cheap AR-15s

Good News! We have all felt the crunch from the last couple of years. Simply supply and demand came into play. Demand shot up faster than supply could keep pace. This put a lot of new players in the market and caused all manufacturers to up their game with better offerings. Now, supply has not only caught up with demand, it has surpassed it. The shelves are full and the market has become more competitive.

This is good news for buyers looking to buy an AR-15. Prices have returned but the quality have features are better than ever, even in the budget market. Tasked with the challenge of coming up with the 10 best ARs for the money was too tough so I added a couple of extras at the end. If you are looking to add a new member to your gun family, Cheaper Than Dirt! has your shopping list ready.

Making premium firearms for decades, Mossberg is likely best known for its quality shotguns used by military, law enforcement and consumers worldwide. Mossberg gained its expertise in building firearms by consulting with experts in the tactical industry and developing some of the best AR-15 rifles available in today’s market. The MMR made its mark in 2014 sporting a 16.25-inch barrel, collapsible stock, adjustable sights, quad rail , including a 30-round magazine.

With a lofty goal to build the finest AR-type rifle in the country, Windham Weaponry comes on strong with its excellent AR-15s. Windham’s experienced gunsmiths and builders ensure only the finest ARs leave its shop, assembling each firearm in-house. Windham Weaponry is an American-owned and operated company. You can see and feel the quality of American craftsmanship in each of its firearms.

Whether buying your first AR rifle, or in need an affordable yet accurate plinking gun, the Panther Oracle is for you. Built to bridge the gap between the sporting and tactical markets, this introductory-level carbine features a 16-inch light contour barrel, A3 upper receiver with Picatinny rail, heat dissipating GlacierGuards and collapsible, six-position Pardus buttstock. Altogether, it tips the scales at a slight 6.6 lbs. The flat top A3 upper allows the shooter to mount the optic of choice to the Picatinny rail.

The Del-Ton Sport AR-15 rifle features a 16-inch lightweight barrel. This makes the entire package extremely quick handling and easy to carry in the field. With a 6-position M4 carbine-style stock, the rifle will easily fit shooters of all sizes and work well with multiple clothing layers. Ideal for optics and iron sights alike, the flattop upper gives you plenty of sighting options. Built-in sling swivel studs and a bayonet lug round out the package.

The ATI Omni Hybrid features am inter-lock hammer and trigger pin retainment system preventing movement from the hammer and trigger pin during firing. The OMNI Hybrid features an over-molded metal insert which reinforces the buffer tube housing and rear takedown pins. Omni Hybrid rifles come chambered in 5.56mm NATO and for the .223 Remington cartridge.

Two guns for the price of one, is a hard combo to beat. The Omni Hybrid comes as a complete .22 LR firearm with an addition .223 upper.

Achieving one-inch groups at 100 yards is no hard feat for the Sportical

DPMS’s Sportical is light enough to carry all day. The optic-ready carbine features a lightweight barrel, adjustable stock, and slick sided low-profile upper. This puts the simple back into firearms making it the choice for most recreational shooters who want an AR without having to take out a second mortgage.

The ArmaLite Defender series AR-15 semi auto rifle comes loaded with features. Kicking off this build are the 7075-T6 forged aluminum upper and lower receivers. The Defender 15 features a 16-inch chrome-lined barrel with a 1:7-inch twist and threaded at 1/2×28. A birdcage-style flash hider is also included. The ArmaLite Defender also features an A2 pistol grip, polymer handguards, and collapsible stock. The rifle and all the furniture feature a matte black finish.

Designed to the exact specifications and features as other S&W M&P 15 models, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police Model 15 Sport is different in that it does not contain a dust cover or a forward assist. This slight deviation from the military design allows the rifle to be slightly more affordable. The M&P 15 features a 1:9-inch twist with an adjustable A2-style front post. The flat top-style upper receiver is ready for the optic of your choosing, but also works great with the included Magpul MBUS rear sight.

The Diamondback AR-15 Semi Auto Rifle is quality and a great value. This particular rifle is the sporter version that does not have the dust cover or forward assist. Chambered in 5.56 NATO, the DB-15SB has a 16-inch M4 contour barrel. The 7075 T6 aluminum-forged receivers comes with the upper receiver in a flattop configuration. The stock is an ATI Strikeforce mounted to a commercial diameter buffer tube. This AR-15 has a standard 2-piece handguard, fixed A2 front sight and the rifle features a black finish.

CORE15 is another excellent firearm manufacturer designing and manufacturing excellent examples of firearms made with American Pride and Ingenuity. The CORE15 uses state of the art manufacturing processes and only the highest quality components to ensure you have a firearm that will shoot accurately in any environment. The motto “Where MIL-SPEC is just the starting point” is the guiding principle at CORE15, it is easy to understand why reviews by shooters CORE15 shows why it is one of the best.

The Bushmaster Firearms Carbon 15 is an excellent rifle for defense, duty and competition. The Bushmaster Firearms Carbon 15 represents the pinnacle of innovation utilizing a high quality Carbon-15 Receiver and aluminum upper for an ultra lightweight and durable platform. The Bushmaster Firearms Carbon 15 continues the legacy of excellence that has made the Bushmaster Firearm lineup world-famous.

I know its, not an AR-15, but everyone deserves an AK as well. The Wassenaar Arrangement Semiautomatic Rifle is a semi-automatic version of the Romanian military Pistol Mitralier model 1963/1965, better known here in the U.S. as the “Romy G.” Made by Cugir Factory and imported and modified by Century International Arms to conform to 922(r), the WASR is an inexpensive, durable, reliable and customizable Kalishnikov series rifle. The GP WASR 10 is perfect for the beginner or AK-47 purist.

Century International GP WASR-10

Barrel

16.25 inches, chrome-lined

Caliber

7.62×39

Twist

1 in 10 inches

Length

34.25 inches

Weight

7.5 pounds

Sights

Side receiver scope mount

Stock and Grip

Military style wood stock and handguard; black polymer pistol grip

Magazine

30-round, removable box magazine

Features…

Stamped receiver; Legendary AKM reliability; Slant brake; Bayonet lug

Tell us which AR-15 fits your budget and what you like about it in the comment section.

Growing up in Pennsylvanias game-rich Allegany region, Dave Dolbee was introduced to whitetail hunting at a young age. At age 19 he bought his first bow while serving in the U.S. Navy, and began bowhunting after returning from Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Dave was a sponsored Pro Staff Shooter for several top archery companies during the 1990s and an Olympic hopeful holding up to 16 archery records at one point. During Daves writing career, he has written for several smaller publications as well as many major content providers such as Guns & Ammo, Shooting Times, Outdoor Life, Petersens Hunting, Rifle Shooter, Petersens Bowhunting, Bowhunter, Game & Fish magazines, Handguns, F.O.P Fraternal Order of Police, Archery Business, SHOT Business, OutdoorRoadmap.com, TheGearExpert.com and others. Dave is currently a staff writer for Cheaper Than Dirt!

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The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!'s blog, "The Shooter's Log," is to provide information-not opinions-to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!

Archangel

Bang for the buck! This year, 2017, has been the year! I picked up a Bushmaster carbine with rebate for around 400$. I saw the week after that ruger had a sale and rebate on their. 223 for under 500$. High quality for either. I couldn’t be happier with the bushmaster. It feeds everything and is super accurate. (I junked the cheap red dot that came with, and put it on a pellet gun).

Louie

I bought an Omni Hybred Maxx in .300 AAC Blackout and a cheap upper in 5.56. I run a Leupold 1-5 power scope on the .300 and a barska 3x9x40 on the 5.56 upper. To date I have spent 740 plus 94 for a quality Plano case.

I couldn’t be happier. Since purchase I’ve used the modular framework to produce several combinations that would wear my fingers out typing. Suffice to say, I love the thing.

I can’t wait to buy a ATI FXH .45 as soon as my favorite site has one in stock.

Douglas Allan Lee

I was very disappointed in your review due to the fact that there were no prices included in which to compare the different offering against one another. How can you title this “the best bang for your buck” without the $BUCKS$👎 👎

Christifer Curtis

Archangel

Well Dave, your readership is speaking to you and they are telling you to make a small change to your policy about the pricing.
Others state that the prices are as of “this date” or “as tested” and may change, and we get that.
I and others have stated, “Bang for the buck” requires you list the “Bang” as in the gun make and model, check, then the “Buck” price as tested, Fail.

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